
Class _x 

Book 



— — jL" 



Copyright^ 



7 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



- 



FROM THE SILENCE 

OR 

The Pathway Of Hope. 

BY 
MRS DAN. M. DAVIDSON 

AUTHOR OF 

"JUST A GLIMPSE." 
''THE LAST DAYS OF JOHN WILKES BOOTH" 
AND EDITOR OF * 
"THE AGE OF THOUGHT" 



DAN. M. DAVIDSON 

PUBLISHER 
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 

1911 






Copyright, 1907, by Mrs. Dan M. Davidson. 



All rights reserved. 



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<tf<MK wnina teacner, 

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CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Portrait of The Author 

Preface 9 

My Creed 11 

The Object of This Lesson 12 

My School • • 14 

The New Era 15 

From The Silence 19 

Silence (Poem ) 22 

The "I" 23 

Our Ideals (Poem) 40 

My Relationship to The Universal "I" 41 

Now (Poem) 53 

Class Lessons in Spiritual Growth 54 

Thought Influence 88 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Character - 93 

A Thought From Emerson 95 

Affirmations For Spiritual Growth 96 

Health Affirmations 116 

To Relieve Pain 122 

Affirmations For The Infinite Supply 123 

Affirmations For Success 126 

Love Is All (Poem) 128 

Love Affirmations 129 

To Awaken The Love Principle 130 

A Call Sent Out For A Lost Friend 131 

To Arouse A Desire 132 

To Strengthen The Faculties 133 

For A Man Who Drinks or Smokes 134 



PREFACE. 



In presenting this volume to the world I do so 
with the honest conviction that its teachings, if 
faithfully followed, will lift the student of Nature's 
Laws to a consciousness of his own reality. So, 
dear one, if you would become great, let me enjoin 
you not to cast aside one thought herein exoressed 
as useless, for each one is a step on the way to the 
higher life and all are of the utmost importance. 

In spiritual unfoldment wt can take but one step 
at a time, and remember that step is one more 
nearer your goal. Hence, I say to you : take them 
as they come classified and give strict attention to 
them ; for 'tis only by gaining complete mastery 
over the one thought in hand before passing on to 
the next, do we progress. 



PREFACE 

There is not a thought in these lessons, but 
what must be, not only mastered now; but, prac- 
ticed all along the way. To realize the power and 
strength of the real self is worth years of hard 
work. 

Loved pupil, let not the star of hope sink beyond 
life's horizon, but practiced earnestly and faithfully 
and your reward will be great. 

Remember, Desire expresses through the law of 
attraction and every moment spent in the silent 
practice brings success nearer and nearer. 
Yours for Attainment, 

MRS. DAN M. DAVIDSON. 



MY CREED. 



I believe In my own reality ; in the immortality 
cf the "I"; in the Oneness of All; the Divinity of 
man ; the growth and development of spirit ; the 
unfoldment of my linient powers and the progress 
of the human race. 

I believe love, sympathy and praise will lift man 
to a higher plain of consciousness. Praise is one 
of God's many blessings, a.nd I believe in bestow- 
ing this blessing wherever it is merited. 



THE OBJECT OF THESE LESSONS, 



Is, to teach the human race to live to the best 
there is within. 

To lend a helping hand to a less fortunate 
brother. 

To change the thoughts of envy, jealousy, hate 
and revenge to Love, Light, Truth and Wisdom. 

To shed the light of "Truth" o'er the path of 
suffering humanity. 

To teach men and women to love dear old 
Mother Earth and all living creatures. 

To teach men and women hew to think and to 
think for themselves. 

To do right ; without regard for the opinion of 
the other fellow. 



THE OBJECT OF THESE LESSONS 

To look always ahead; never down the path 
behind. 

To see the good in every face we meet. 
To fear nothing, save our own Conscience. 

To bring health, happiness and success to those 
who understand its teachings. 

To teach man how to turn darkness into light; 
how to be true to himself, how to be honest and 
frank with his fellow man. 

To sift the opinions of others, accepting only 
that which appeals to the inner consciousness as 
"Truth." 

To know all is good. 

To realize the Real— the "I." 

To deny the unreal, the not "I." 

To awaken in man an interest in the welfare of 
humanity. 

To aid man to become acquainted with himself, 
thus realizing he is the "Master." So that when my 
work is completed upon this plane humanity will be 
the better for my having lived and loved. 

Yours for "Truth." 

MRS. DAN M. DAVIDSON. 



The Universe is my school, 

Nature is my book, 

And God is rn}^ instructor. 



THE NEW ERA. 



We have entered a New Era, a new age. We 
have reached the cross roads where the old ortho- 
dox narrow path is left behind, and in exchange 
we find our way broadening and lit by the many 
beautiful ideals given us by the progressive mind ; 
some of these ideals are new, some" are old as time 
itself, yet all ha\ r e their work to perform, their 
purpose to attain — the awakening of the conscious- 
ness to a new life. 

That there is a new life is no longer a belief, but 
a scientific fact and the remarkable rapidity with 
which this new truth is being accepted is indeed 



FROM THE SILENCE 

encouraging'. The demand for practical knowledge 
concerning this new life is fast becoming Universal. 

Countless thousands of poor souls are hunger- 
ing and thirsting for this new life — this awakening 
consciousness — this forerunner of a new birth — for 
asres humanity has been searching in the darkness 
of despair for this mysterious something; which, 
if found, means so much to all. 

In order to enable one to live in accord with this 
new era or new life we must enter into a full realiza- 
tion of the fundamental principle of right. When 
we begin to view life from a scientific standpoint, 
we begin to realize the great power lying dormant 
within man, and immediately he becomes filled with 
the desire to become all that lies within his power 
to become. 

Those who look upon life with this broader, 
wider view shuts forever from their mental vision 
the old narrow path of the past, carrying within his 
own being a happy song, ever endeavoring to live 
the best and grandest life he is capable of. 

To enable one to live in constant realization of 
the wonderful truth contained in the new life prin- 
ciple, one must become permeated with its very 
essence — seeing — knowing — recognizing only per- 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 17 

feet health — peace — joy and good will to man, thus 
living in the highest degree of perfection. 

It is a demonstrated fact that whoever enters 
understandingly this new life, realizing his own 
posibilities, will eventually outgrow every undesir- 
able condition which may exist. 

To accomplish this end, however, it is not all 
to simply say : "I believe in the perfect life," but 
we must eternally demonstrate the fact by becom- 
ing daily and hourly better and better men and 
women. 

Harmony and good will are inseparable com- 
panions in this beautiful new philosophy, new, yet 
old as time itself; we have felt the peace that comes 
from the realization, of some achievement we 
have struggled to attain. What joys may not be 
curs by constantly moving forward now and 
eternally. 

All groping in darkness, searching in vain for 
a landing place among the breakers of life, should 
come into this new philosophy and continue to ad- 
vance, thus opening the windows of the soul, letting 
in the new life principle, which proves itself con- 
clusively and scientifically. 

The. crocd thines of life come naturally and are 



18 FROM THE SILENCE 

amply fed by nature's laws. How can it be other- 
wise when all is good and each day brings forth a 
condition richer, purer and sweeter than heretofore, 
blending together in harmony our physical, our 
mental and our spiritual sense, enriching the mind 
and soul with the highest there is? Thus we come 
into the real life by coming into a realization of 
the new life, thus demonstrating our desires and 
realizing our. ideals. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 19 



FROM THE SILENCE. 



From the silence comes the sweetest things in 
life. From the silence we derive our capabilities — 
in the silence of our thought chamber we accom- 
plish the mighty wonders of the age. From the 
silence to demonstration comes all the great inven- 
tions of our daj>\ From the silence to realization 
conies every achievement of man, no matter how 
great or small. In the silence Benjamin Franklin 
discovered Electricity, using the simple key and 
kite to demonstrate its truth — it was from the 
silence Edison discovered how to utilize this same 
great power. 

Down deep in the heart of our silent chamber,, 
there lies a little spark, which, if kindled into a 
flame will burn and burn for you and me just as it 
burnt for Franklin and Edison. Dear one, why not 
Sfo into the silence and touch the match of love to 



20 FROM THE SILENCE 

that little spark of desire and become even greater 

than our forefathers ? For what our forefathers ac- 
complished in the past, you and I can accomplish 
with ease with the greater opportunities of our day 
and age. We may not all become a Franklin or an 
Edison, but, we may build for ourselves a founda- 
tion which will resist the storms of life, we may 
place the lamp of desire at our masthead and with 
tl e wheel of destiny in our own hands mould it as 
the sculptor does his clay — to our ideal. 

It is in the silence we receive those beautiful in- 
spirations which turn our frail bark from the break- 
ers of the past to the beacon light of hope in the 
future. 

Go with me, dear one; }^ou whose heart is break- 
ing with its weight of sorrow ; whose tomorrow is 
obscured by the clouds of yesterday and the sun- 
light today only peers forth like the darker shades 
of night — to that fine grove of maples just across 
trie way. 

Let us seat ourselves beneath the boughs of this 
giant old tree whose spreading branches reach out 
as though longing to enfold one in their fond em- 
brace and in the rustling of its leaves comes a whis- 
per: ''Weep no mere, for I will love thee." 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 21 

Hark ! Listen to that voice which calls to me 
from the topmost branches, in song so sweet, yea, 
the beautiful robin sends his carrol forth as nature's 
God pleading with us to be happy; in his song 
language he tells us not to mourn, that all is peace 
and joy. See? As the last note dies away in the 
distance he turns to the mate in her nest and nobly 
takes up life's burdens, yet, in another moment we 
hear his happy lay saying: "Life is not a burden 
but a joy, work to me is only pleasure. You may 
take from me my home — my wife and little ones — 
and I will still sing on and on. 

Oh! see that clear little butterfly sipping the 
honey from the wildflower, it too, is trying in its 
feeble way to tell us to hope, and the wildflower, 
\vith a smile lends a hand in life's battle by furnish- 
ing nourishment to the butterfly, while the busy bee 
comes humming by in search of food for its winter's 
supply, and over all, peeping here and there through 
the leafy branches shines the beautiful sunlight, 
God's lamp which lights the way for all. 

Not a human voice within sound of the ear, yet, 

there are a hundred voices which speak in tones of 

thunder — which tells us from the silence comes all 
eood. 



22 FROM THE SILENCE 



SILENCE. 



Let us go into the silence, 

And wait for it alone; 
The thought which brings desire, 

Which will teach us to atone. 

Let us join our hands in friendship. 
While we watch the lamp above; 

Which tells us of our "ideal," 
That teaches truth and love. 

Let us go into the silence, 
And gather from its ray; 

The peace and joy waiting, 
To light the darkest day. 

Let us go into the silence, 

And feel that all is true, 
That every cloud has vanished, 

With the hope just born anew. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 23 



THE "I." 



This first step in the unfolding of the inner man, 
is designed for the purpose of developing the inner 
consciousness to a realization of the real being, the 
"I" within, which will enable the pupil to cast aside 
the fetters of the past false teachings, and step 
forth free and independent into a perfect realiza- 
tion of his at onement. But, before he can go further 
on the scale, it is a necessity to arouse the "I" to a 
conscious realization of its Real Identity. Until 
this truth becomes a reality in his consciousness, he 
will not be able to understand from whence comes 
his power. 

Pie must not only form a clear mental concep- 
tion of this inner self, but, lie must feel its very 
presence — must realize it is the real self — must be- 



24 FROM THE SILENCE 

come conscious of its actual Identity, in fact it must 
become the only real self, separate and apart from 
all physical expressions. 

There are two degrees of this consciousness, the 
first of which we will term the realization of the 
"I", a consciousness of "I" am- — a something which 
causes one to know he lives and has his being, inde- 
pendent of the physical body, a state in which all 
doubts of man's immortality are at once swept 
away, and he feels himself lifted up and away from 
this material plane to a life of sunshine and joy. 

The second decree is the consciousness of, All 
life is One life and "I" am that life, the "I" am con- 
sciousness, which causes the pupil to recognize his 
oneness with the Universal Whole. "I" am the 
highest manifestation of God's expression. 

This awakening is the consciousness that, among 
all the worlds — suns and planets known and un- 
known to civilized man, "I" am the highest expres- 
sion thereof. The unfolding of this "I" am life 
will enable the student to become Master and to 
solve the great secrets of the External Universe. 

The average man has little or no conception of 
the real self, which constitutes a makeup of the 
very highest and the very lowest, The leading 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 25 

authorities of the day inform us, that there are 
many planes of activity both high and low in the 
physical, mental and spiritual mechanism of man. 
God is no more invisible to the material sense, than 
is the real man to the field of cuter consciousness. 
It is in the higher realms of consciousness that we 
come in touch with that which causes us to realize 
that all is of Divine origin. 

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see 
God." How true is this beautiful saying of the 
Master. The meaning of which is, a realization of 
the real self as the "I" am man. 

As the child first learns the A. B. C.'s before he 
can read, so must the student of the higher life gain 
a knowledge of the self before he can progress into 
that realm of divine Truth. 

It has long been a demonstrated fact, that in 
addition to the mental faculties common to the 
whole race, there are far greater faculties lying 
dormant within, only waiting the opportunity to 
express, the manifestation of which will render man 
far more than just an ordinary individual. Under- 
lying all outer expression, both mental and physi- 
cal, stands the real living, breathing ego — the man 

himself, and as he awakens to a realization of him- 



26 FROM THE SILENCE 

self, will he be able to distinguish between the Real 
and the unreal — the "I" and the not "I" and just in 
the degree that he awakens to these latent facul- 
ties, will he unfold into a true knowledge of his at 
onement. 

As the real pearl is hid from view by many 
sheaths of rough material substance which must be 
carefully removed ere the beauty of the gem itself 
can be seen and admired, so must the Real man 
shed his many sheaths of material clothing before 
he can come in touch with the divine spark which 
radiates from the very center of his being and which 
for ages past has been struggling to pierce the 
gloom of its material coverings. 

The pupil will find great benefit by studying 
the physical as it appeals to him in others, by so 
doing he will soon discover that few of a so-called 
civilized nation have gone beyond the half mile 
post. The man of thirty who goes around all bent 
over, eternally suggesting the very thing he does 
not want, is proof to the master that he has devel- 
oped his thinking and reasoning faculties, compara- 
tively, to a very slight degree — living only on the 
plane of the subconscious mind — thinking only of 
gratifying the desires of the physical body, never 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 27 

giving a passing thought to the real "I," and it 
would be an utter impossiblity to convince him of 
his attributes — so much for civilization. 

While to the advanced student who has suc- 
ceeded in developing the real man, the material 
existence is only a myth, he has passed above and 
beyond the limitations of the ordinary man, and the 
very things which have retarded his neighbor's 
progress he has converted into stepping stones to 
greater heights, under the mighty power of a cul- 
tivated will, he has made the ego master over his 
servants, and as he advances along the scale of evo- 
lution, he grasps a higher and higher conception of 
the real "I" until he begins io realize there is some- 
thing within him that is far more real than this 
physical body. He finds he is able to set it aside 
and step forth independent of the body, almost for- 
getting its very existence, and the man whose mind 
is thus trained and cultivated under the power of 
the will directed by the ever watchful Eye, knows 
he has the key which unlocks the door to all knowl- 
edge. 

No longer does he advance in fear and trembling, 
for he recognizes the real man, and his possibilities, 
he has awakened his slumbering soul to a conscious- 



28 FROM THE SILENCE 

ness of its mighty power, and can afford to laugh 
at the old pessimistic ideas he once harbored. 

In unfolding the consciousness of the "I" we 
find many stumbling blocks, but we build with 
these very blocks the ladders up which we climb; 
always remembering, the Attitude of the Infinite 
never changes, it is perfect and unchangeable, al- 
ways working in harmony with all for the unfold- 
ing of the Eternal good. 

Man in his narrow concepts of the power of God 
(good) may change, but, that which is recognized 
as the "I" within — the Divine spark is indestruct- 
ible — Eternal — Invincible and Immortal, it has al- 
ways been, it is and always will be. Man is God's 
perfect expression objectified, not a fallen, but a 
risen creature. 

When the pupil enters that state of Infinite reali- 
zation he will understand how the Divine Mind, be- 
ing perfect, cannot forgive; forgiveness means, the 
chaneine or altering of one's mind for the benefit of 
another. Hence the Infinite, being unchangeable, 
cannot break the eternal Law of perfection, by for- 
giving man for the wrongs of the physical. Man 
forgives because of his imperfection. 

It was thought that God expressed his anger in 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 29 

the thunder, and the lightning was the proof of his 
fury. But, to the advanced student, the thunder's 
mighty roar is the voice of Divine Love speaking 
Eternal Truth, and the lightning's flash is only a 
smile of perfect harmony breaking through the 
clouds of doubt and fear, which clears away the 
mist of ignorance and superstition, thus letting in a 
flood of Infinite sunlight upon the soul, which "illu- 
minates" and brings into expression the conscious- 
ness of the "I." 

God is the Universal cause — the effect we find 
in the Eternal Now. The awakening of the inner 
consciousness to a realization of the "I" is but the 
first step on the ladder leading to the glory of "Illu- 
mination" and the student w T ho attains this con- 
sciousness, who realizes the dawn of another life, 
has taken his first step and paved the way to Mas- 
tery. At this point the pupil realizes his relation- 
ship w r ith the Great Whole and he begins to grasp 
the importance of increasing the power he has 
gained at this first step, which will prepare him for 
far greater unfoldment. 

The man who expects to become a center to ex- 

. ert an influence beyond himself, must first become a 

center within himself. As the child, in learning to 



30 FROM THE SILENCE 

walk, totters from chair to chair, groping its way 
along until it awakes the sense of self confidence, 
when it boldly steps forth and. stands alone; so 
must the pupil feel his way along step by step, 
aided only by his own efforts and the helping hands 
of the master, who has crossed the rough places be- 
fore him, and as he goes higher and higher in the 
scale of consciousness, will he be able to radiate an 
influence in the objective world — which will return 
laden with the fruits of love. 

In some the dawn of the awakening conscious- 
ness comes gradually, while in others it bursts forth 
immediately upon the slightest concentration like a 
ray of sunshine through a darkened cloud. But, be 
not discouraged, dear pupil, though the journey be 
long and slow, you will never lose that which you 
have once gained ; there is no going backward, but, 
onward is the watchword. 

Comparatively speaking only a very few people 
at the present time have but a faint conception of 
the real self, and are conscious of themselves, as a 
something a little higher than the animal. They are 
still sleeping in ignorance of the Real "I." 

In the first awakening of the consciousness, the 
pupil will be unable to distinguish between the real 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 31 

"I" and the mental thought. Of course he realizes 
there is a change, that he has advanced several 
steps, yet he is more perplexed and annoyed than 
ever at his failure to separate the two, and should 
he pause here the slight knowledge he has gained 
would only prove a curse — life would become a 
failure and the pupil a pessimist of the lower order, 
a curse to himself and his neighbor. Hence my ad- 
vice, never attempt to handle nature's Laws in ig- 
norance of their workings. 

For many years my husband and I boarded, off 
and on, at one of the leading Hotels in Windsor, 
Ont., just across the river from Detroit, Michigan. 
At our table sat a lady and gentleman whom we 
will call Mr. and Mrs. A. Mr. A was one of Michi- 
gan's wealthiest men, whose every wish could be 
gratified. Some years previous to our meeting he 
had dabbled in the Occult, not understanding^, but 
in utter ignorance of the Laws which control the 
Occult world. In a short time he discovered the 
inharmony, not alone in himself, but in others. The 
things he learned were only riddles which he could 
not solve, every new problem perplexed and an- 
gered him, and it became an impossibility for him 
to answer his own questions. The tortures of a 



32 FROM THE SILENCE 

man whose mental growth enables hirn to know 
without understanding can never be conceived by 
the Master who has traveled the road to realization. 

At the time I became acquainted with this man 
he was the worst pessimist I had ever had the mis- 
fortune to meet. He was an Infidel and Atheist, ac- 
cepting only the bad of all as it appeared upon the 
surface, believing without knowledge, that this 
plane is all there is, believing he could breathe, eat, 
drink and sleep, but, when the breath ceased that, 
like the snuffing of a candle, w r as the end, and with 
these thoughts uppermost in his mind he passed to 
the great beyond. 

Hence I say : let the student who earnestly de- 
sires soul growth to gain all the knowledge and 
wisdom it is possible for him to grasp, for it is 
knowledge and wisdom which bridges the rough 
places, answers our questions and works our prob- 
lems. Now with a purpose born of desire may we 
push on and on, stopping not upon the path to suc- 
cess. 

In the first stages of the unfoldment the pupil 
is conscious of a something which does not die and 
cannot be killed or harmed, and with this conscious- 
ness comes a strength and power impossible to de- 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 33 

scribe. All the eld pessimistic ideas will fade away 
and fear, which has pursued him like a gruesome 
shadow, from the cradle to the now; fades away like 
the mists of deception before the sunlight of Truth. 

At last the pupil has entered the field of con- 
sciousness where he is able to realize the "I" and 
the physical body are noe one and the same, at last 
a faint understanding of the possibilities of the 
Divine mind daw r ns upon his mental vision, and 
firmly he places his foot upon the rung of the lad- 
der and bravely takes the next step. 

In silent wonder he watches the magnificent 
workings of the great within, at last he knows he is 
a center of attraction — he knows it because he can 
feel it and he understands it, because the knowledge 
has sunk deep down into his inner consciousness. 
In reverent silence he sees himself as he is ; a king 
upon his throne — a center of conscious knowledge 
— wisdom — power and Influence. He knows no 
harm can befall him — no fear can assail him, for he 
has received the blessed knowledge that he is and 
always has been and always will be. He is Real — 
He is Spirit — He is a living, breathing entity, a life 
which is Eternal. All troubles have disappeared, 
like the mist, from whence they came, happy in the 



M FROM THE SILENCE 

blessed thought of the "I." 

There is one point I desire to impress upon the 
mentality ere we go further: It is very natural, 
when first entering the silence to mentally criticize 
the progress of others — to imagine w r e are greater 
or have gone higher than the "other fellow. " Com- 
parisons are unworthy of the thought, and are 
classed in the not "I" series and indicate a lack of 
development. Simply ignore all consideration of 
others and realize the fact that "I" am Wisdom. 
"I" am Knowledge. "I" am Power. "I" am Divine. 
"I" am a center around which all else must circle. 

In just the degree that the pupil realizes he is a 
center will he be able to manifest its drawing power, 
which awakens in the soul a desire to scale the sum- 
mit and plant Truth's banner on the hights. Let 
the pupil realize from the center of his being comes 
the great power of concentration, which is the first 
step on the road to realization, and in order to con- 
centrate, the pupil must compel himself to pay at- 
tention. Attention is concentration. No one ever 
concentrated who said, "I am going to concentrate." 
Forget what you are going to do and the thing is 
done. 

As we start upon our long journey, the road 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 35 

stretches far, far away in the distance, but, hope is 
at the helm and courage is the pilot which will 
guide us on to safety. 

How to enter the state of realization. 

The pupil must first retire to a room, where you 
can be absolutely quiet, where there is no dan- 
ger of interruption, absent yourself as far as pos- 
sible from all outside influences, and realize you are 
alone with yourself. 

Take a straight back chair, place it about three 
feet from the wall, upon which you have pinned 
the card with the black spot, place the spot on a 
level with the eye. Facing the East. 

Why do you face the East? 

From the North we draw the cold. 

From the South we draw the warmth. 

From the West we draw the darkness. 

From the East we draw the Light, and as it is 
Light we are searching for, hence we face that 
which we are looking for. 

Sit in an easy position, with the muscles free 
from tension; in other words, "just let go" and rest 
in perfect peace in the arms of Divine Love, feel 
their embrace above, below and around you, letting 
the eyes rest gently upon the black spot, while you 



36 FROM THE SILENCE 

mentally repeat, "I am resting, I am resting, I am 
resting." Sit absolutely still, do not move a muscle. 
Man is the only living creature who never gives his 
mental capacity a rest. The mind of man is always 
in a tumult, hence the necessity of the stillness in 
which state the pupil enters that condition of per- 
fect peace and calm which permeates to the very 
center of his being. 

In the stillness we rest the physical while we 
calm and tone the mental. At first the pupil will 
find it hard to hold the thought of rest, but as he 
acquires a degree of will power and begins to realize 
his mastership, will he be able to enter the silent 
stillness, at any time or place. 

Remember, that all stages of the development 
must be under complete control of the Will which 
must master all mental efforts. 'Tis the Will which 
holds the reins over ourselves, and focuses the 
thought to the concentering point, which, in time, 
will enable us to enter that state of conscious realiz- 
ation of the "I" reality. 

One of the important features of these lessons is 
the fact that the pupil must go into the silences at 
the same hour each day; at first he only sits ten 
minutes that he may not overdo the mental as well 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 37 

as the physical, but, as he progresses, he can gradu- 
ally increase the time to half an hour. 

Now, having gained complete control over both 
mental and physical conditions, the pupil has pre- 
pared himself for the next step, which we will des- 
ignate as the call. 

The pupil will now mentally affirm the follow- 
ing, putting power and strength into every word: 
"Awake ! Awake ! Thcu real self ! Awake, I say ! 
Arouse from thy slumbering state and manifest to 
all mankind thy higher Attributes, those latent 
faculties which are the God-given power of the 
Ego, its birthright from the fountain head! Awake, 
I say! Awake! At the same time picture yourself 
as sleeping and waking at the call. 

Now the picture changes and the pupil sees 
himself as an individual Entity — a Real living, 
breathing being — a world within himself. He has 
just awakened to the fact that "He" (the Ego) is 
the "I" he has been calling, the something which is 
Eternal and can not be destroyed, but will always 
be the same "I" expressing. Wisdom — knowl- 
edge and power will come with the passing years, 
yet the same "I" responds to the call of the silence. 
When, in your daily walks of life, you use the 



38 FROM THE SIL ENCE 

word I try to realize what I you refer to, and as it 
sinks into your consciousness it will take up its 
abode there and become a part of you, every time 
you use the word I you are referring to the Ego, 
think of the Ego as "I" and the "I" as the Ego inde- 
pendent of and separate from the body. 

This is one of the greatest stumbling blocks, the 
separating of the "I" from the physical body, but, 
patience and perseverence will bring its own re- 
ward. 

I succeeded in separating the two, by picturing 
myself as living upon this plane without the in- 
cumbrance of the body and I soon discovered I 
could go and come at will. I soon began to realize 
the body was a beautiful dress I could put off and 
on at my own pleasure. 

As the student progresses in his unfoldment he 
will find the soul proves its own Immortality. Ah, 
what an inspiring thought. Well do I remember 
how it lifted me on the w r ings of love, and I seemed 
to soar away and away like a bird freed from the 
confining walls of its cage, and life has never been 
the same to me since I realized my own Greatness, 
nor will you, dear pupil, be the same when the 
Divine "Illumination" floods your soul. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 39 



And Now at the close of this lesson, I bid you, 
dear pupil, a fond adieu. May success crown your 
efforts, and may you realize : 

From the Silence Comes the 
Sweetest Things in Life. 
Yours for the Rights, 



40 FROM THE SILENCE 



OUR IDEAL. 



The truth unto thyself proclaim, 

Your "ideal" from on high; 
And side by side we'll brest the storm, 

And grasp the good that's nigh. 

Say not that life is worthless, 

That all is sin and pain; 
Just catch its joys and pleasures, 

As they come and come again. 

Only listen! dear one, listen! 

To the silent voice so true; 
It tells of home and heaven, 

The same for me and you. 

So let us struggle on and on, my darling, 
'Til we reach the golden gate; 

Where Truth's bright lamp is shining, 
And bids us not to wait. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 41 



MY RELATIONSHIP TO THE UNIVERSAL 



As we dealt with the individual "I" in the pre- 
vious lesson, I shall endeavor, in the following one, 
to bring the student into a conscious realization of 
his relationship with the great Universal "I." 

The trend of this lesson will be the oneness of 
all, and I trust my efforts will be rewarded by 
arousing the student to a conscious realization of 
the greatest of all Truth, i. e., our Oneness with 
the Whole. 

The affirming of the oneness of the individual 
"I" w T ith the Universal "I" soon brings the pupil to 
a condition where he begins to sense the reality 
of himself and his relationship to the Universal 
"I." It is my earnest desire that the pupil enter 
that state of realization where he knows he is a 
reality, where he feels he is a real being, a beauti- 
ful manifestaion of God's Love, whose mission on 
earth is to unfold those Divine qualities which have 



42 FROM THE SILENCE 

been inherited from the great Mind, whose infinite 
possibilities cannot be imagined, and as the light 
slowly dawns upon our inner consciousness do we 
realize it is limitless; the reality of life has just be- 
gun to burst forth in all its splendor, and in won- 
der we exclaim : "Surely I am One with God, the 
father." 

So we find this same Oneness of matter under- 
lying all forms and substances, the vital power of 
which we draw from the great Universal supply. 

Ah ! Now we catch a glimpse of the real self, 
and realize that all the higher attributes to which 
mankind is heir, including mind and thought, 
are but manifestations of the Universal mind. There 
is nothing we can call our own — nothing separate 
and apart from the great Universal Mind.. Thus 
we find the Oneness of all, and that it is impossible 
to separate that which is called life from the Uni- 
versal life, which is unchangeable and Eternally 
the same. 

Thus when you begin to feel your relationship 
to all other manifestations and to realize that you 
are only one of the many, then may you grasp 
faintly the reality of your oneness with the Whole — 
then will the individual consciousness enlarge and 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 43 

expand until it enfolds all within the Whole. All 
is one — and One is all. 

Let the pupil turn the attention for a short 
period to that which is termed the physical body, 
each atom of which is daily and hourly changing 
and renewing— drawing from and returning to the 
great Universal store house from which we draw 
our supply of mental and physical energy, with 
which we rebuild and repair the physical body. 

The atoms which comprise my hand today, may 
go to make up some other living body tomorrow. 
Matter is one constant change, that which you own 
today may have slipped from your grasp tomorrow, 
one of the hardest things to realize, is : that we do 
not own one tiny atom of that which goes to make 
up our physical bodies, for it is the common prop- 
erty of the race and permeates through all and in 
all. There is only one Force — one Vital energy, 
and we find it in all manifestations of life. 

This brings us in touch with all physical, men- 
tal and spiritual energy. Ah! we are just waking 
up to the fact, that, the only thing we really own, 
is the Ego — the Real self, which is Eternal and un- 
changeable and brings to us a consciousness of the 
unity of all — the oneness of the stupendous Whole. 



44 FROM THE SILENCE 

Look which way you will all is life. The uni- 
verse is teeming with life, vibrating and pulsating 
with energy. The phantom of death has disap- 
peared and in the light of the awakening conscious- 
ness comes the realization that we live. There is 
no death, every atom is alive surrounded by a 
mighty pulsating, thinking, living sea of life, and 
as we look here and there, we are surprised at the 
great intelligent world around us. No matter which 
way we turn, all is life and intelligence, all drawing 
their different degrees of vibration and energy from 
the same mother's breast. All is one and One is all. 
We draw our energy from the great Universal 
supply and consume all that we are capable of 
handling. The remainder must return from whence 
it came, only to be again passed on and on ever 
manifesting at all times. Thus we find there is 
nothing separate and apart one from the other. 
Yes, even the matter of which our physical bodies 
are composed is really in touch with and a part 
of all other manifestations of matter. 

So it is with all mind — substance. Each being 
in touch with all others, although, difficult as it is 
for us to realize, when we think of our mind as 
our own; a piece of property which we own, it is 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 45 

nevertheless true that every thought emanating 
from your brain and mine has its influence for good 
or bad upon the mind-substance of all other minds. 
My mind in reality is only seemingly separate 
from yours and works under the same Law of one- 
ness as does matter and all other forms of energy. 

Picture yourself passing through a great area 
of untold wealth, picking here and there as you 
have need, only to be cast aside as useless, as you 
push on to greater things ; as the old coat, which is 
cast aside today as worthless, will be the treasured 
property of the tramp tomorrow ; will the mind sub- 
stance w r e use today become the property of other 
minds tomorrow. 

Clumsy and crude as my illustration is, I am 
happy to have succeeded in bringing you, dear 
pupil, to a conscious realization of this most won- 
derful Truth — a consciousness of your own reality, 
unchangeable and eternal, and all the rest, both 
mental and physical are just a part of the Universal 
Whole from which you draw in order to supply the 
wants of the Now. 

May my efforts bring more clearly to your vision 
the unity of all things ; a gathering of the seeming 

separate parts into one reality. How great indeed is 
the awakening to conscious realization that the "I" is 
the only real thing there is. All else, including force, 



46 FROM THE SILENCE 

energy, matter and mind, are but manifestations of 
the "I" yourself, or if you like, instruments the use of 
which enables the Ego to express and bring into reality 
all of Life. There is no death. Each change is but 
a step to a greater, grander Life. Look where you will 
all is Life. Life — Life, vibrating, pulsating and team- 
ing with energy — a thinking, living Universe. 

Thus, step by step are we brought into a realiza- 
tion of the oneness in spirit, a unity of Life, and as 
time passes and we continue to grow and unfold, we 
become more and more conscious of our relationship 
to one another and to the great Whole. Each soul is 
a center of consciousness in this great sea of Eternal 
Life. Each one is a real being, seemingly separate 
and apart from all others; yet, as sheath after sheath 
is cast aside and our spiritual consciousness awakens 
do we become aware of our oneness and the thought 
of separateness fades away like mist before the sun- 
light. 

Each in his own peculiar individuality must gain 
the heights by the path which most appeals to his in- 
ner consciousness. Let the spirit lead you from the 
confining walls of superstition and dread into the 
eternal light of Truth, the realization of which will 
enable you to rise above the conditions of the lower 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 47 

planes, thus freeing you from the bondage of the un- 
developed soul. 

At last we have awakened to the fact, that the 
fundamental principle of all life as expressed in the 
universe, is the same. Stop for a moment and con- 
centrate and let the thought penetrate deep into your 
inner consciousness, let it take root, grow, bloom and 
blossom; let the conception of a mistaken diversity be 
replaced by a conscious knowing— a feeling of unity 
— of Oneness with all other manifestations of Life. 

Loved one, as you enter the sacred shrine of silence 
concentrate and meditate upon this thought of One- 
ness and unity, until the dividing line is lost to view, 
and all, whether it be matter, energy or Force, merges 
into one grand Whole. See the many manifestations 
of the One, witness the constant work of building up 
and breaking down. New combinations are formed, 
and the old ones are decomposed and dissolved, thus 
returning to its originality, and, yet, we find through 
all the many changing scenes of the wonderful mani- 
festations of Energy with which the universe is filled, 
the "I" — the real self remains unchanged — unharmed 
— Real and Eternal. Among all the changing scenes, 
both visible and invisible, you stand a center of con- 
sciousness, around and about which all else revolves, 



48 FROM THE SILENCE 

you the Ego — the Spirit. 

I think it well to follow a little deeper than the 
form of energy known as mind substance, and try to 
arrive at a clearer understanding of the subject, al- 
though, as I said before, it is hard to explain the un- 
explainable. It is not my purpose to quote from the 
mistaken conceptions which have been held by the 
materialists for ages past, but on the contrary I will 
call the attention to a more advanced idea. 

In studying along these lines do not hold to the 
mistaken idea, that mind is confined to man alone, but 
carry the thought of mind as expressed in everything 
from man down to the animal, mineral and vegetable 
kingdoms, placing the mind of man the highest in the 
scale of evolution and remember that any act of con- 
sciousness is a manifestation of mind, from the lowest 
form, which is that of "sensation" to the highest of 
spiritual consciousness, all are manifestations of mind, 
varying in degrees of consciousness only. 

Look where we will we see the different stages of 
development a,nd slowly the Truth dawns upon us, all 
is Mind, and we just begin to realize that back of and 
underlying all forms of expression is the subconscious 
mind of all. 

Now will the student try to realize a great univer- 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 49 

sal mind from which all may draw, according to the 
degree of vibratory action around the individual, a 
mind which stands ready to obey the Ego's commands, 
for you, the Real self is far higher in the scale than 
mind and can command. But, hold not aloof from any 
form of manifestation but instead look beneath the 
cuter expression and find the reality — Life, and feel 
yourself a part of the humblest as well as the greatest. 
Feel your heart beating in union with the life principle 
of all Life and remember there is not a living thing in 
the universe which you are not a part of, and by the 
light of your dawning conscious realization of your 
own greatness, do you receive your divine inheri- 
tance, but be not blinded by the^grandeur of the 
vision. Remember it is the unfolding of the spir- 
itual — the God within — the One in reality, which is 
a center of consciousness in this great sea of life. 

In order to identify the reality of oneself with the 
reality of all other forms of life, we must look be- 
yond the sheaths of material matter and search be- 
neath for that which is a part of ourselves, that which 
is a "kin" to all. 

In presenting this lesson to the pupil my object has 
been to gently lead you into the dawn of unfolding 
consciousness that you may realize the reality of the 



FROM THE SILENCE 

"i." Ee not in haste, dear one, remember the "Mills 
die gods grind slowly but surely," bear in mind 
all mental development must not be forced, but 
all must sprout, grow, blossom and bear fruits. You 
do the directing and .leave the subconscious to do the 
work, and as you mount higher and higher in the con- 
sciousness of your reality, you will drift from the 
lower attributes and your soul will be filled with 
higher ideals and your whole being will vibrate with 
love and kindness. 

Under no circumstances must the pupil use this 
new found power for a selfish purpose — for those who 
work black art will sooner or later hang themselves 
upon the gallows they have erected for another. But, 
be not discouraged, the road is long with many pit- 
falls, the feet will become weary and the heart sad, 
but, oh, the reward is so great, that the stumbling 
blocks will only be as mists before the sun. 

To nuderstand, means power and power means 
mastery and mastery means your commands must be 
obeyed. First, gain control of the inner self and you 
are well on the way to the heights. 

All any one can do is to do the best they can. There 

are many crude conceptions of that part of life which 

calls Cod, but, they are worshipping the highest 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 51 

conception possible, in their undeveloped state, in other 
words they are doing the best they can. Hence, every 
student of the beautiful philosophy of "New Thought" 
recognizes a brother or sister and feels a bond of 
sympathy and love even for the humblest. He it is 
who understands and says: "My brother," while he 
extends the hand of good fellowship. 

God is unchangeable — the same now and forever, 
yesterday, today and tomorrow, but as the race prog- 
resses and evolves man's conception of Deity is con- 
stantly changing. Just as the Christian's God of to- 
day has changed from the God of an hundred years 
ago. Yet God is just the same. The change has been 
in the growth and development of the race according 
to the day and age, as man advances along the line of 
evolution and unfolds his inner consciousness, his con- 
ception of Deity rises to a higher standard. His ideas 
of yesterday have gone up in the scale today, and so 
will it continue to go higher and higher as he con- 
tinues to awaken the consciousness to a realization of 
the "Truth." 

A faithful student searching for the highest real- 
izes that under all outer expression, there is but one 
Life; one Force; one Reality, and he feels himself 
reaching out and enfolding the Whole. Look which 



52 FROM THE SILENCE 

way he will he sees himself expressed in all forms, 
shapes and colors, in all places and at all times. The 
Life which throbs within his own breast, also beats 
in all the universe. To him Life is Real, Life is every- 
where.. Life is Eternal and he sees himself a center 
of consciousness in the great sea of universal Life 
and at last the idea of Oneness presents itself and he 
realizes that all, including matter, energy and mind, 
are One, separate only in appearance, at last he is 
conscious of his own spirituality, and proudly he steps 
forth a new person, whose soul has been freed from 
the Confining sheaths of matter, now recognizes the 

spiritual "Illumination" and humbly he bows his head 
in silent wonder, and reverently he murmurs "I" am 
in touch with the great universal "I." 

Dear Pupil : I trust I have succeeded in awakening 
the understanding to a conscious realization of our 
own relationship to the universal Whole. I now bid 
you Godspeed, and I know my work has not been in 
vain. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 53 



NOW. 

Let not the sorrows of yesterday 

Darken today, 
Nor the hopes of the morrow 

Lay blocks in my way. 

For I carry the banner, 

With a hand that knows How; 
Whose ensign is Truth — 

Whose emblem is Now. 



54 FROM THE SILENCE 



CLASS LESSONS IN SPIRITUAL GROWTH 



As Taught by 
Mrs. Dan M. Davidson. 



Student: "What is New Thought ?" 

Teacher: "A demonstrated Truth." 

"What is the basic principle of the new phil- 
osophy ?" 

"The oneness of all, the unity of Life." 

"To what will this conception of unity eventually 
lead?" 

"To the evolving of the present conception of 
duality." 

"What is meant by the term duality in the sense 
which you use it?" 

"For ages past it has been the supposition that 
there are two opposite forces in nature eternally 
struggling for mastery." 

"What are these too forces called?" 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 55 

"God, Devil, Spirit, Body, Good, Evil, Health, 
Disease, Life, Death, and many others." 

"How are these spoken of by the masses?" 

"As separate and distinct entities." 

"How does the new philosophy classify them?" 

"As one, the Real." 

"Which is designated as the real?" 

"God, Spirit, Health and Life." 

"What is the opposite?" 

"The unreal; that which is not." 

"Are not Good and evil separate forces?" 

"They are not; only one power reigns." 

"What is that power?" 

"The Divine Mind, Omnipotent, Omniscient and 
Omnipresent." 

"Is it possible for this Divine Mind to express 
both good and evil, right and wrong?" 
"No." 

"Why?" 

"Because it is the one, the. first great principle — 
ultimate cause." 

"How does the one manifest?" 

"In millions of ways, but always in harmony." 

"If evil, wrong, disease and death are not real, 
where did the idea first originate?" 



56 FROM THE SILENCE 



"They are the effects of man's finite thought, and 
are Unreal." 

"Does this which you designate as the "One" exist 
in men?" 

"It does." 

"Can man manifest this power within himself?" 

"He can." 

"Will this enable him to control the manifesta- 
tions of the 'One'?" 

"Yes." 

"Can man utilize this power for his own good?" 

"He can." 

"How does this power make itself manifest?" 

"Through the Law of vibration." 

"Can man control other manifestations than those 
which bear directly upon himself?" 

"Lie can." 

"What are they?" 

"Those whose vibrations are of a lower rate than 
his own." 

"Through what Law does this power manifest 
within man?" 

"The Law of sensation." 

"What governs all?" 

"ThoUght." -. t : 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 57 

"Can this power reason ?" 

"It cannot, all reasoning faculty belongs to the 
intellect." 

"How much of this power is controlled by man?" 

"All; man, being a center in the Universe, draws 
all to himself." 

"By what Law T does he thus attract?" 

"The Law of Attraction." 

"Can man become extinct?" 

"He can not." 

"Why?" 

"If man could be blotted out, the whole universe 
would become extinct. Truth realizes only unity. 
Man Is; hence all else is, the One centered in man, 
man centered in the 'One.' " 

"What is matter?" 

"A mode of motion, as is heat, light, sound, and 
so forth." 

"Matter being Motion, what is man?" 

"A mode of motion." 

"How can man be both physical and motion?" 

"He can not. Science has long decided, man can 
not be two; that is, Spiritual and physical, and as 
both are different degrees of vibration, man is classed 
as motion of a higher or lower degree. Hegel's defini- 



58 FROM THE SILENCE 

lion of man is, 'Spirit conscious of its own existence.' " 

"What is the vibration of Spirit?" 

"The vibration of spirit is the highest there is, and 
is far beyond the conception of man." 

"How do you designate Spirit?" 

"As a part of the Universal whole, a Law unto 
itself." 

"Is there any mode of motion, force or manifesta- 
tion above and beyond that of spirit?" 

"There is not; The Infinite Spirit is the highest." 

"This being the fact, what is the physical body?" 

"A manifestation of the one force or mode of 
motion, as is thought, only differing in degrees of 
vibration." 

"How are we to study this force in man?" 

"By regarding all emotions, differing in rate of 
vibration only, as a manifestation of the 'One' force." 

"Does the thought of man have any influence upon 
this spiritual manifestation?" 

"It does. 'As a man thinketh in his heart, so is 
he. 1 It is by thought all manifestations are mastered 
and controlled." 

"Of what good will this unseen force be to man?" 

"It will turn the great wheel of evolution, and be 
the means eventually of greater discoveries than ever 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 59 

made before, by either inventor, scientist or phil- 
osopher/' 

"What is life?" 

"It is the highest vibratory action expressed by the 
Infinite." 

"What do these vibrations produce in the human 
body?" 

"A sensation of the different emotions, like love, 
hate, peace, worry, sorrow and joy, which are but a 
manifestation of the One life differing in degrees 
only." 

"Will the time ever come when man will unfold 
his sense of understanding to a degree which will 
enable him to respond to every degree of vibration?" 

"Yes; man will eventually reach a height where 
he will know all. The book of knowledge lies open 
before him and Wisdom says he must look beyond 
the limits of the five senses if he would manifest 
Truth," 

"What is the object of these lessons?" 

"To point the way by which man can claim his 
inheritance." 

"How can man escape the unpleasant sensations 
like those of sorrow, pain, and so forth?" 

"By an intelligent understanding of the Law of 



60 FROM THE SILENCE 

vibration/' 

"Is pain a degree of vibration?" 

"Yes, and by possessing a thorough knowledge of 
the Law which controls the expression (pain) man 
will be enabled to reduce the rate of vibration and 
the sensation of pain will disappear." 

"What must be done to reduce a rate of 
vibration?" 

"Hold the positive thought in the field of con- 
sciousness until the sensation ceases." 

"What effect will a negative thought have?" 

"The sensation of pain is negative." 

"Upon what does the march of civilization 
depend ?" 

"The unfolding of the inner consciousness to a 
thorough knowledge and understanding (which means 
mastery) of the higher vibrations." 

"How shall we know what sensation to cultivate?" 

"By accepting the pleasant and denying the un- 
pleasant." 

"What effect does the pleasant sensation have upon 
the physical body?" 

"They are health, strength and joy builders." 

"What effect do the unpleasant sensations have?" 

"They produce the opposite, like disease, worry, 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 61 

sickness and death.'' 

"Are these conditions physical or mental?" 

"Mental, as are all conditions pertaining to the 
human body/' 

"What are these conditions called?" 

"Expressions." 

"Expressions of what?" 

"Thought." 

"How shall we control this faculty?" 

"By the cultivation of concentration, which will 
enable the individual to control his thought." 

"Is it possible for man to rebuild himself?" 

"Yes." 

"How is this accomplished?" 

"By concentrating and affirming, which will enable 
the individual to realize his Oneness with the whole." 

"Can the spirit sense pain?" 

"It can not; the sensations of pain, sickness and 
death are of a lower vibration and are mental manifes- 
tations or degrees of consciousness." 

"Are these conditions real?" 

"They are not, only as the individual allows them 
to manifest in the field of consciousness. If he thinks 
of them as real, they become real to the outer con- 
sciousness onlv." 



FROM THE SILENCE 



"Change the mental attitude and what will follow?" 

"When man refuses to recognize pain, sickness 
and death as Real, and by its denial closing the avenue 
of expression, pain, sickness and death will fade into 
nothingness." 

"Do you mean to say that the conditions of sick- 
ness and death do not exist in reality?" 

"I do. Man, by the power of his thought, creates 
the undesirable condition, and pain, sickness and death 
are the effect of his negative thought." 

"Is it the same with all unpleasant conditions?" 

"It is; all conditions in the life of man which 
make for unhappiness are the effect of his own mental 
attitude." 

"What Law besides that of thought plays an im- 
portant part in the manifestation of things real or 
unreal ?" 

"The Law of suggestion; man can build himself 
over into an angel or an ass by this same Law of 
suggestion. 

"How shall we change this attitude?" 

"By recognizing — having faith, as it were, in the 
Real — always denying the unreal, thus refusing to 
accept an untruth as a truth." 

"Does that which appeals to me as a truth become 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 63 

a truth ?" 

"To your outer consciousness only, as the man 
who writes upon the sand, only to see it washed into 
nothingness/' 

"What must be done in order to further promul- 
gate this thought?" 

"Soul growth?" 

"What is soul growth?" 

"Expansion of the self to the highest degree of 
understanding." 

"What is essential to soul growth?" 

"Freedom of thought, of speech, of action, and, 
above all, spiritual Liberty." 

"What is spiritual Liberty?" 

"Freedom from the creed-bound faith of our fore- 
fathers ; for ages past man has been but a slave, bound 
by the chains of ignorance and superstition." 

"What is the next step in the field of growth?" 

"Desire, that mental attitude which says: 'Give 
us this day our daily bread 7 ; that part of man which 
is ever reaching out for things higher in the scale of 
evolution." 

"How shall he obtain his desires?" 

"By the Law of effort, in soul growth or expan- 
sion, effort bears an important part, but, be it re- 



64 FROM THE SILENCE 

membered all effort must be entirely spiritual/' 

"Why?" 

"Because all spiritual efforts are by the finer vibra- 
tions, while those of a physical effort are termed 
matter and are of the lower vibrations only." 

"What does the Law of effort demonstrate in the 
life of man?" 

"A willingness to expand, a desire for spiritual 
attainment." 

"What effect does resisting a Law have upon soul 
growth ?" 

"The motto of soul growth is, never antagonize 
either conditions or opinions; all is spirit, hence all 
is good." 

"Then to argue the point pro and con would not 
be right as taught by the new philosophy?" 

"It would not; demonstrated facts speak louder 
than words. 'Stand porter at the door of thought/ 
ever affirming the unity of all, thus opening wide 
the portals of truth, letting your light so shine that 
men shall see your good works and profit by them." 

"What is the best attitude to assume in order to 
gain the best results?" 

"Keep the thoughts away from negative condi- 
tions ; for example, you desire to gain health — keep 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 65^ 

the thought off your body, live unconscious of its 
existence; never allow yourself to think or suggest a 
thing you do not desire/' 

"What is the highest expression of the spiritual 
man?" 

"Love is the highest and purest; the first and last, 
the universe is controlled by Love; there is no progress 
along any line until love awakens the desire. Love 
is always present, ever manifesting from the lowest 
io the highest." 

"Is it possible to master the vibrations of Love?" 

"It is not; the vibrations of the Love sensation 
are far beyond the conception of man." 

"Does it not have its variations ?" 

"Yes, the vibrations vary according to the scale 
of evolution in each human life." 

"What is love?" 

"Love is the greatest power in the universe. It 
is Omnipresent, ever manifesting — the one Divine 
principle of good." 

"Is there a limit to Love?" 

"There is not. God is Love, Love is God. Love 
is the center of all. Love is all. Hence there can be 
no limit to its manifestation." 

"In what light do you regard Love?" 



66 FROM THE SILENCE 

"As the spirit of good (God). There is a con- 
sciousness within man ever affirming: T am Love, I 
am Spirit, Truth, Wisdom, Knowledge . and Power, 
all expressing in the one manifestation Love." 

"Is it possible to comprehend love?" 

"We can neither see nor comprehend that mysteri- 
ous something man terms love." 

"How can man direct, control and express his 
latent forces?" 

"By a wise understanding of nature's laws, and a 
consciousness that he possesses all power, and as he 
progresses along the path he will recognize the finer 
vibrations ; and in time the exoteric plane will fade 
from view and its place will be filled with spiritual 
truths, in the midst of which he lives and has his 
being." 

"How can he attain this spiritual attitude?" 

"By intelligently directing the One creative power, 
'Thought/ the ability to think and to be that which 
he thinks." 

"Is there any law in nature which will aid in this 
spiritual development?" 

"Yes; the Law of affirmation and suggestion. A 
wise understanding of these Laws will make man a 
master who will proclaim his own fate." 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 67 

"What is progress?" 

"Human progress is but the manifestation of the 
ideal, that which is and has been eternally in man. As 
the thought of the race advances, so will progression; 
all external conditions are constantly undergoing a 
change. Human progress is but the ceaseless turning 
of the great wheel of evolution, and man is just begin- 
ning to realize he is a conscious factor in his own 
evolution." 

"Then you do not accept the theories of the race 
degenerating each year?" 

"Emphatically, no ! The close of the present cycle 
will see the human race far in advance of any previous 
one." 

"How can man control these conditions in order 
to express that which he desires?" 

"By holding the unexpressed as a present reality; 
the very desire itself is proof that it exists for you in 
the ideal. Thought has builded the model which in 
time will teach man how to think.'* 

"Why is your philosophy called 'New' Thought? 
Do you consider the thought new?" 

"The thought itself is not new, but, the rebuilding 
and reshaping of the old thoughts, replenishing them 
with new ideas is "new." 



68 FROM THE SILENCE 

"To whom are we indebted for the advanced 
ideas?" 

"To all lines of progress that have a tendency to 
teach men how to think." 

"Are there any rules for this Spiritual unfolding?" 

"Yes, one very simple rule. Never think or sug- 
gest a thing you do not want to express in objecti- 
bility ; always affirm your desires as present reali- 
ties." 

"Is it possible to gain more of this world's goods 
by thinking?" 

"Our supply is Infinite and equals the demand. 
If you desire a more bountiful supply, think pros- 
perity ; never allow the poverty thought to enter. 'Ask 
and ye shall receive/ is the Law." 

"Is the spirit of man all that he desires it to be?" 

"Yes; within his own being lies the power, only 
waiiing the opportunity to express; the law of life 
is so simple; just by affirming our desires as a reality 
do thev manifest." 

"What is the fundamental principle of ex- 
pression?" 

"Truth, and by truth man is ever evolving toward 
his goal, the conscious directing of life's forces." 

"Will the understanding of this principle lift man 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 69 



"AT 



from the ruts of ignorance?" 

"Yes, all acts of man are directed by thought. Shall 
that thought be born of ignorance and superstition, 
eld age and death ; or shall it live in the bosom of love, 
ever under the guiding hand of self-control, which 
leads to wisdom and knowledge?" 

"Is there no other route by which man can 
progress ?" 

"There is not ; the one Law of realization brings 
mastery." 

'an this realization be attained in a hurry?" 
No ; man unfolds in the same degree that his 
thought changes from the old to the new, and the 
thought will change and the spiritual manifest accord- 
ing to the instrumentality through which it manifests." 

"Then the physical side has more or less to do 
with the individualizing of the inner life of man?" 

"Yes ; before we can manifest the inner we must 
learn to forget the outer." 

"Can the outer manifestations harm the unfolding 
man?" 

"They can not; the only power to harm lies 
within the Law of choice, to do and to be." 

"Is the same Law used by the Christian and Mental 
Scientist that is used by the New Thought philosophy?" 



FROM THE SILENCE 



"Yes; all law is the common property of mankind; 
all lines of spiritual unfoldment, including healing, 
are made manifest through the same Law, which is 
Life itself." 

"What is the worst stumbling block in the way of 
spiritual progress ?" 

"Fear; fear has made cowards of us all; conquer 
fear and you conquer the world." 

"How are we to cope with these conditions?" 

"'By ignoring them, by persistently denying their 
reality and as strongly affirming the opposite, and 
remembering the prophet's teaching, 'I am that which 
I think I am.' " 

"What are the principles of man?" 

"Man is a being composed of three principles : 
Spirit, soul and body. Spirit is that mysterious some- 
thing within, the Real, the deathless part of man, 'Our 
Father/ the divine spark from the Infinite. Soul: 
There are many theories as to the part soul plays in 
the life of man ; some writers hold the idea that the 
soul is, as Mrs. Eddy termed it, the mortal mind. The 
home of the intellect from which thought expresses. 
For my own part, I simply designate the soul as 
the spirit's instrument of expression. The body is 
the physical side of man, which has descended from 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 71 

the infinite through long ages of evolution until it 
has arrived at its present development in the ma- 
terial universe." 

"What is the whole?" 

"A manifestation of God (good) in which we 
live, move and have our being." 

"Why do you use the word 'which' in connection 
with God?" 

"Because God is a principle, not a person limited 
to time and space ; man is the only limit who gauges 
his own capabilities." 

"Is there more than one God?" 

"No; there is but one center, one creative power 
from which springs all the different manifestations 
of life." 

"Is God a spirit?" 

"No ; God is Spirit." 

"Is spirit visible to the eye of man?" 

"It is not." 

"Is this body of mine Spirit?" 

"No." 

"What is it?" 

"A manifestation of Spirit." 

"When you look at my face, do you not see me?" 

"No." 



72 FROM THE SILENCE 

"Why?" 

"Because the 'me' is spirit and can not be seen 
by the physical eye, hence I can not see the living, 
thinking 'me 5 when I look at the face. I see only 
that through which the T manifests. " 

"Is God intelligence?" 

"Yes; all the intelligence in the universe is God 
— Infinite wisdom made visible." 

"Is it possible to draw any of this wisdom from 
the exoteric side of life?" 

"It is not." 

"Why?" 

''Because all power lies at the center of being; 
thus all things visible are the different degrees of 
manifestation of the one spirit." 

"Speaking of the power of thought, can I move 
a train of cars by thought?" 

"Thought is a creative power, not a movable 
force ; but all things are possible to him who under- 
stands." 

"In times of great need, to whom should we 
turn for help?" 

"To the invisible." 

"Why?" 

"Because there is something which instinctively 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 73 

prompts the individual that, somewhere in the realm 
of invisibility there is a power which will relieve his 
wants." 

"What is this power called?" 

"Our Father." 

"Does this power have any other names?" 

"Yes." 

"What are they?" 

"Universal Energy, Spirit, and God." 

"How do you designate the within?" 

"As the kingdom of heaven." 

"How many different sources of life have we?" 

"There is but one source of being, and that is 
the Infinite, the fountain head of all expression." 

"Is this consciousness of a fountain head of any 
material benefit to mankind?" 

"It is ; from its source man draws all that he is, 
and all that it is possible for him to become." 

"Do all things in the universe, seen and unseen, 
originate from the same source?" 

"Yes; it is the One manifesting in different 
degrees upon different planes, hence the Oneness 
of all." 

"Does this thought of Oneness have any bearing 
upon the spiritual development of man?" 



74 FROM THE SILENCE 

"Yes; it has everything to do with it; the 
thought of Oneness of the Spirit, soul and body acts 
as a positive factor in the unfolding of the inner 
consciousness. " 

"What is the work of the intellect ? r 

"The intellect is that part of the mental capacity 
which receives its teaching from the outside, 
through the channels of the five senses. It has no 
knowledge of right or wrong, truth or falsehood, 
only as prompted by the spiritual mind, hence the 
eft-repeated expression, 'My conscience won't 
let me.' " 

"What explanation do you make in regard to the 
biblical saying, 'Since the fall of man?" 1 

"In the days of primitive statehood man lived 
upon the spiritual plane only; but the wheel of 
evolution brings a change of thought and with it 
comes a change of expression; instead of living in 
the depths of his spiritual nature, man has de- 
scended to a material plane of consciousness. " 

"Then according to your view man has fallen ?" 

"No; man is not a fallen, but a risen creature. 
With each turn of the wheel of evolution comes a 
spiritual awakening, and with it comes wisdom and 
knowledge." 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 75 

"How do you interpret the biblical saying, 'ex- 
cept as ye be born again' ?" 

"Entering into a realization of our Oneness with 
the great whole/' 

"How shall I 'become as a little child?' " 

"By expressing a willingness to be taught how 
to take the first step in spiritual understanding." 

"How am I to ask, in order to receive?" 

u 'Ask and ye shall receive' is the Law, for it is 
by asking the Divine mind that we are enabled to 
receive. 'Knock and it shall be opened unto you.' 
Knock at the door of spiritual consciousness and w r e 
arouse a desire for spiritual knowledge. 'Seek and 
ye shall find.' Seek for truth and truth will mani- 
fest." 

"What is the quickest and surest route to a 
thorough knowledge of these truths?" 

"There are no short cuts. Only by that which 
brings a sense of knowing to the inner consciousness 
can man unfold." 

"How can man arouse this inner sense?" 

"By a half hour's meditation in silence, in which 
we 'ask,' 'knock' and 'seek,' realizing that which 
we are seeking abideth within our own being." 

"How shall one perceive this truth?" 



76 FROM THE SILENCE 

"Seek it, wait for it, and when you feel the 
soundless voice it will guide you through all, for 
it is the One mind to which mistakes are unknown, 
once felt can never be forgotten ; no power on earth 
can be brought to bear upon you strong enough to 
convince you against your inner consciousness. " 

"What are we to do with the people who are 
in a hurry — the sort of get-rich-quick class?" 

"Let them alone in their ignorance. You can 
afford to wait, and they are not ready." 

"Are not these lessons intended for all man- 
kind?" 

"They are not ; only for those who have 'become 
as little children' are these lessons intended. 'When 
the disciple is ready the teacher appears.' " 

"What is error?" 

"It is that which is perceived by the intellect 
or mortal mind, based upon the evidence of sense 
only, and are not the expressions of the divine mind 
within." 

"Can the intellect know a thing to be either right 
or wrong?" 

"The intellect believes but does not know, and is 
fond of arguing, while spirit does not argue the 
question, but receives that which it is itself, 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 77 

Truth/ " 

"Why do we think so many things wrong?" 

"We have thought wrong because we manifest 
the sense, and it is this very manifestation which 
builds the mountains of troubles and sorrows which 
humanity has burdened itself/' 

"Do you think a man can go from a physical 
to a higher mental plane?" 

kk Yes; it is a process of growth, a passing 
through the mental, on to the spiritual." 

"Why does man have so many pull backs?" 

" Tis these very pull backs which make us grow ; 
'tis our mistakes which light the path of progress." 

"What kind of thoughts shall we think in order 
to grow?" 

"Never think of the faults and failures of others; 
they only retard your own progress and make you 
unhappy. Remember the bad man you see is but 
a reflection of yourself; the faults you condemn in 
the other fellow you have within yourself. 'Judge 
not, lest ye be judged.' Turn your thought to the 
good within, and see all as it is infinitely good ; 
radiate and shine if you would grow; remember, 
stagnation leads to death. Did you ever see that 
lazy, good-for-nothing creature plodding along in 



78 FROM THE SILENCE 

the ruts of ignorance and imagining he has the 
world at his beck and call? I have, and when he 
got left in the shuffle was horrified to think the 
world did not appreciate his wisdom. These are 
the people who die for the want of right thoughts 
to enrich the mind." 

''Do you think there is hope for such people; 
that it is possible to lift them to a higher plane of 
consciousness?" 

"I do; change a man's thought and you change 
his habits — change his habits and }^ou change his 
character; all things and conditions upon the 
material plane have been thought into existence." 

"Ah! I see; in other words, you just build him 
over." 

"That's it, just build him over — that's all." 

"What do you consider the most important phase 
to cultivate, which will be of the most service to 
the student in his search for truth?" 

"Memory. There is no phase of the human mind 
which plays so important a part in the unfolding 
of the spiritual consciousness as does memory. 
Bacon said: "All knowledge is but remembered,' 
while Emerson wrote : 'I would rather have a perfect 
recollection of all that I have thought and felt in 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 79 

a day or a week of high activity than read all the 
books that have been published in a century.' A 
careful study of the wonderful phenomena of mem- 
ory will convince the most skeptical that there are 
greater treasures stored away in the inner conscious- 
ness than ever dreamed of by the exoteric side of 
life. Burke said : 'There is no faculty of the mind 
which can bring its energy into effect unless the 
memory be stored with ideas for it to look upon/ " 

"How are we to cultivate and retain this impor- 
tant faculty, memory?" 

"Simply by paying attention, that is, holding the 
thought to a given point, compelling ourselves to 
become interested at all times." 

''Does the past have any material influence upon 
cur present conception of things?" 

4 It does. What we are today is but the effect 
of our former mental conditions; the thoughts we 
have harbored here-to-fore build for us the Now." 

"What can one do, who is a victim of past mis- 
takes, to rid himself of his undesirable conditions?" 

"Just change the thought; try to realize the 
mistakes — stop thinking failure and suggest op- 
timism." 

"I wish you would tell me how to stop thinking 



80 FROM THE SILENCE 

a thing which is always in front of one?" 

"Easy. Just don't see; become blind to all with- 
out and realize only the beauties of the great within, 
which is Truth' itself." 

"Easier said than done, I am afraid, for the way 
is dark to me, I tell you." ' 

"Ah, my friend, the way can never be dark to 
him whose inner consciousness is lit by spiritual 
illumination." 

"But how can I gain this great height which 
seems so far away? How am I, who has never 
realized the truth of a spiritual illumination, to enter 
that state of mind in which I see, feel and know 
this that you are saying is a 'Truth,' a 'Divine 
Truth'?" 

"Become as a little child, lay aside your previous 
beliefs; all prejudice; all the authorities of great 
men and the opinion of friends and stand forth alone, 
leaning not upon the broken staff of another for 
support. No longer pin your blind faith to the 
opinion of others, but let w r isdom mount the 
throne of reason and become a willing pupil to 
the inner consciousness, and as the wheel of evolu- 
tion slowly evolves you will become conscious of 
the omnipresent mind, the T am' part of you, which 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 81 

will lead you on and on until all is clear to your 
hitherto befogged vision." 

"Oh, can I do this?" 

''Certainly; try it; trust and watch the result. 
Let imagination have sway. It is the creating 
power, as the silken bag attached to the aeroplane 
lifts it up hundreds of feet above the earth, so does 
your imagination lift you from a negative plane 
of ignorance to a positive consciousness in which 
you knew. As the inventor's model is at first only 
a crude, imperfect image of the ideal which exists 
in his mental kingdom, so is the thought of man 
crude and imperfect, living under the influence of 
the negative thought, which builds a body in sick- 
ness and death." 

"Don't you think sickness and death a 
necessity?" 

"I do not. Sickness is only the effect of a past 
cause, for every effect is an expression of the cause 
behind it (thought) ; our bodies are laboratories in 
which the mind experiments and refines its material 
(thought), with which it builds. Without thought, 
how much benefit would you derive from the doc- 
tors' dope? Take faith in the doctor and his drugs 
away from the patient, and what benefit would you 



82 FROM T HE SILENCE 

receive from either? It is the faith thought in both 
which evolves a cure/'' 

"Do you think it possible to counteract the 
effects of a drug with thought ?" 

"I honestly think that the man who can assert 
a positive thought and hold it understandingly can 
not be affected by any drug whatsoever, even the 
most deadly poison. All is mind and the thought 
expressed is the Law manifesting. Hence, there 
is no death, for all is life, and life is Eternal and 
can not die!" 

"Why does the tree die?" 

"Because it ceases to grow." 

"Does not man cease to grow?" 

"Only in the height and width of the physical 
bod}'. The spiritual and mental eternally grows, 
and by its growth do the millions of little minds 
in the physical body grow and rebuild. Thought 
is the controlling power, hence, if we think old age 
we necessarily grow old ; but, on the other hand, if 
v/e mentally suggest to those millions of little 
minds the truth, which is Health, Youth and Eter- 
nal Life, they will work in perfect acord with the 
thought, thus keeping the body young and strong, 
with unlimited supply ever ready." 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 83 



"What is your opinion of the mind of Dr. 
Crippen?" 

"The mind of the murderer expresses only a 
primitive development and is not responsible for 
its mistakes, until it evoves beyond the primitive 
plane of consciousness upon which it manifests; the 
mind of every so-called criminal is filled with latent 
attributes of the undeveloped good, for only through 
the belief in severe want can the belief in evil over- 
power man ; the mania to gain happiness leads many 
to a mistaken goal." 

"How are we going to do away with the thought 
of evil?" 

"I do not think I can answer that question in 
any language that so appeals to the heart as do the 
words of Mrs. Mary Eaker G. Eddy: 'Only virtue 
is a rebuke to vice.' " 

"A beautiful thought that, but, in order to de- 
velop this inner consciousness of mine I must accept 
your theories without question and work them out 
with a blind faith. " 

"No, sir! Far from it. Accept that only which 
appeals to the consciousness, laying the rest away 
for future inspection. Study your own theories, 
analyze them, try to understand their meaning and 



84 FROM THE SILENCE 

why they appeal to you more than others ; listen 
to the opinion of others, but accept only that which 
appeals to you as Truth; remember, a Truth, once 
understood, never carries with it any uncertainty 
or doubt, for it is Truth, and Truth is all." 

"How am I to realize a Truth when I come in 
contact with it?" 

''The very fact that it is a Truth will cause you 
to realize its significance." 

"I am sorry to say, I do not understand you." 

"No; neither will you until the unfolding of the 
inner consciousness shall open the way to wisdom 
and knowledge. The experience of another will 
never demonstrate a 'Truth' to you ; only the slow 
opening of the bud will, in time, unfold the rose." 

"Is this unfolding of the inner consciousness a 
growth, the same as the bud slowly changes to the 
full-bloomed flower?" 

"Just the same, and thought sows the seed in 
the subconscious realm, and if you plant perfect 
seed (thoughts), you will receive a rich harvest." 

"Will you explain this peculiar growth of the 
inner consciousness? I fail to grasp the idea of 
a person growing after the individual has reached 
the years of maturity." 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 85 

"Ah ! I see ! speaking of the years of maturity, 
you refer to the growth of the physical body, while 
I am speaking of the spiritual, that which is, the 'I.' 

Try to follow me now and see if you are enabled 
to grasp ; to recognize a truth. The growth of the 
inner consciousness is governed by certain fixed 
laws. I learned this by studying myself, and you 
may learn, not alone these laws, but, all other truths, 

by a careful analysis of the inner self; all space is 
filled by one Universal mind, from which ail else 
springs, the first great cause of all things. This 
Universal mind (the inner consciousness of man) 
thinks all things into being; hence, the thought of 
man being one with the Universal thought creates 
its own environments ; thus, the real cause of all 
things, visible and invisible, is Universal mind. The 
same law governs all r^like, no matter whether it 
lies at the heart of man-animal — plant or stone ; all 
are manifestations of the same '1/ Hence, the pic- 
tures we build in imagination become our ideals 
(God's thoughts), and in time manifest in the ob- 
jective. By slow degrees, step by step, I have be- 
come conscious that there is only 'One' and T am 
that 'One.' Hence our oneness with the great 



86 FROM THE SILENCE 

Whole, T and the father are 'One/ 

"In the primitive state of the human race, man's 
idea of God was in some far-off abode beyond the 
reach of man, but, as he slowly unfolds his spiritual 
consciousness he draws God nearer and nearer, un- 
til the fact dawns upon him that he himself is God, 
and the line w T hat here-to-fore has separated him 
from truth fades into nothingness and he knows 
there is only one. 

''Now comes the query, if God and man are one, 
whence sprang the idea of a separate being?" 

"Because the thought of man is based upon the 
theory that his physical body is himself, instead of 
an expression of his thoughts. 'As a man thinketh, 
so is he/ " 

"Explain what is meant by consciousness." 

"Consciousness is the awakening of the intellect, 
a dawning upon the mind that things are not what 
they seem to be. Man has denied the power of 
God, and directed his energy to the things already 
manifested in the outer sense, but the moment his 
attention is centered upon the ideal he realizes 
his mistake, and cautiously he opens the door to 
the higher consciousness of the T am. 

"There comes a time in the life of every indi- 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 87 

vidual when desire is the keynote of existence, and 
when this law is recognized man begins to grow. 
Desire satisfied is growth, and this growth brings 
a new experience — new thoughts and new material 
from which to manufacture. Desire is progress — 
denial is stagnation. Desire is the voice of God 
spurring us on to action. 

"One of ray strongest points in soul growth, is, 
to ever 'stand porter at the door of thought/ always 
carefully guarding every thought, that no undesir- 
able ones escape to retard the growth of others or 
contaminate my own soul. All things work together 
for the good of all, and by right thinking and right 
living I am enabled to manifest all that God is. 
Harmony is the gate to heaven, Love is the key 
and Truth the way. Listen to the voice of love, 
have faith in your own ability, cast fear behind, and 
you will grow." 



88 FROM THE SILENCE 



THOUGHT INFLUENCES. 



"You said before that our thoughts made us 
what we are outwardly. Will you please explain 
more definitely its influence?" 

"I will try. In the first place, if it were possible 
to blot each thought from the page of life as soon 
as. manifested, there might be a reasonable doubt 
as to its influence. But, when we take into consid- 
eration the fact, that memory is the woodbox into 
which thought casts all rubbish, good, bad and indif- 
ferent, and it is this material which is ever being 
utilized to mold our character; and, this being the 
fact, it is of the greatest importance that we only 
fill our box with carefully prepared material, that 
when it is brought forward into the field of con- 
sciousness, we find only the best — the purest. 

"It is very essential in the study of thought influ- 
ences that we always bear in mind the fact; that 
cur thoughts of the 'Now' affect not our character 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 89 

today, but days — weeks — months and even years 
hence the effect of the 'Now' thoughts will make 
its appearance; every thought and action of today 
expresses the material we have stored away. 

"That this is a scientific fact has been demon- 
strated, and yet there are few who realize the fact 
and act upon its principle. The words you utter 
today are manufactured from the material that mem- 
ory holds in trust and out of which the loom of 
thought weaves its fabric. For example I will re- 
late an experience of my own : 

"It was away back in the sixties, when our coun- 
try was cursed by civil war, when brother fought 
against brother and every man's hand was raised 
against his neighbor — of which I speak. My father 
was a staunch Union man ; a Republican in politics, 
and very narrow in his views; so much so that his 
teachings gave to his children the opinion that all 
Democrats were secessionists and copperheads. 
What the meaning of secessionist and copperhead 
was, we children had no conception, but we were 
sure they meant something 'awful' bad. Now re- 
member these thoughts were installed in my mental 
store room on a shelf bearing the date of 1861 to 
1865. After the close of hostilities between the 



90 FROM THE SILENCE 

North and South the memory of my father's teach- 
ings faded from view and I had seemingly forgot- 
ten them, when, in the twinkling of an eye I was 
brought face to face with this period in my past, and 
like a flash of gunpowder, all the teachings of my 
early childhood exploded. This is how it occurred : 
"I had stepped across the street on an errand, 
leaving Mr. Davidson alone in the printing office. 
I was gone but a few minutes, and when I started 
to return I glanced toward our place of business, 
and what was my surprise to behold a man just 
sticking on my window a cut of the Democratic 
candidate for sheriff. In a second my whole being 
was filled with indignation to think that anyone 
should dare insult my womanhood thus. In less 
time than it takes to tell you I was again a child 
living amidst the dangers of civil war. Rushing 
into the office, I ordered the man to remove the 
obnoxious thing and take it and himself out of my 
presence. He tried to apologize, but I would not 
listen. T am a staunch Lincoln woman/ I cried ; 
'go V pointing toward the door, and without an- 
other word the gentleman did as he was told. As 
I turned to enter my editorial rooms my husband 
spoke: 'You have made a fine circus of me; I gave 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 91 

the man permission to put the picture up.' 

"His words brought me back to 1910 and I real- 
ized my mistake. I apologized as best I could, but 
I shall never forget the awful storm of indignation 
which possessed my very soul ; and he, my husband, 
will never understand why I should so humiliate 
him. It was a bitter experience, but it taught me a 
truth, namely, the thoughts of our past are expressed 
in the 'Now' even though years may intervene and 
childhood turns to old age, yet 'Truth' will never 
fail to demonstrate itself. 

"But, dear one, let not the thought of the past 
discourage you from attempting to store away some 
of the right kind of thought material for future use. 
Put into operation man's strongest weapon, the 
Will, and step forth free and independent of the 
past, leaving it behind you by willing it to the 
rubbage heap. 

"Has this lesson been of material benefit to you? 
Have you received what you were looking for?" 

"Indeed I have; you have lifted the veil of 
ignorance and let in a flood of light on the subject. 
But, is there no method by which one may demon- 
strate thought has an influence on the physical 

O i- J 

body which would be convincing to the individual?" 



FROM THE SILENCE 



"To be sure there is. Imagine yourself on a 
sinking vessel; the men are endeavoring to launch 
the lifeboats; all is confusion around you; each one 
is struggling to reach safety; you among the fore- 
most; at last you are seated in the lifeboat and are 
on your way to home and loved ones; when, all at 
once the boat, with its load of human freight, is 
precipitated into the sea and you find yourself 
struggling in the cold waters of the deep — you sink 
and rise — sink and rise, and sink for the last time. 
Try this exercise while in the silence and see in 
what physical condition it leaves you. Then, on 
the other hand, change the imaginary picture to 
some great pleasure; the unexpected coming of 
some loved one and the happy hours passed in their 
company, and note the physical change." 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 93 



CHARACTER. 



"Explain what effect this spiritual unfoldment 
has upon the character." 

"When one starts to unfold the inner conscious- 
ness, the first thing he does, is to change the old 
worn-out habits, and of course this immediately 
begins to change the thought and in a short time 
the change is noted in the character. In order to 
more fully understand this lesson, it would be well 
to grasp the meaning of the word character. 

"The word character is from the Greek, meaning 
'to engrave' or 'to cut in/ and you will soon observe 
how the doing away of the old and accepting the 
new will engrave the change upon our personality. 
Hence, it is of vital importance that we should 
weigh every thought and action. If you were going 
to build a new house, you would get the best ma- 
terial that you may have a first-class home; so 
must we furnish only good and pure thoughts for 
our new selves." 



94 FROM THE SILENCE 

"Tell me how shall I begin to build my 
character?" 

"Carry a mental picture of that which you desire 
to become. Kay says : 'In anything that we propose 
or intend to do, we must first of all have an idea 
or image of it in the mind, and the more clear and 
correct the image, the more accurately and effici- 
ently will the purpose be carried out/ " 

"Do you mean I shall imagine I am this, or that, 
as the case may be?" 

"Certainly; mental pictures are all the work of 
our imagination." 

"Then the success in rebuilding myself over lies 
in my ability to build 'castles in the air'?" 

"To a certain degree, yes. The key to the inner 
consciousness hangs upon a thorough knowledge 
of its workings; there are no mysteries when we 
understand. I find a very good method to arouse 
the working of the inner self, is, to talk to it, just 
as you would talk to another person, express your 
desires, speak firmly but kindly and you will be 
surprised." 

"When shall I practice this talking to myself?" 

"At any time Avhich appeals to you, it may be 
done aloud or in the silence, just as you desire, have 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 95 

faith, confidently expect results. After your talk 
is over go about your work and forget it, it will 
take care of itself. 

'"'Now, dear pupil, we will draw these lessons to 
a close, hoping, praying they have done you good, 
that they have opened the way whereby you have 
been enabled to reach the goal }'ou are struggling 
for, and I sincerely trust our intercourse, as teacher 
and pupil, may prove of mutual benefit to both. 

Lovingly, 

ADIEU. 



"The truth can always be had by those who de- 
sire it, but, each one must seek it for himself. That 
only which we have within can we see without. If 
we meet no gods, it is because we harbor none." 

— Emerson. 



96 FROM THE SILENCE 

AFFIRMATIONS 

For Spiritual Growth. 



In order to enable the pupil to hold to the one 
thought desired, I have separated each affirmation, 
so that, while studying the range of vision will not 
take in the one above or below that which he is con- 
centrating upon. 

When affirming take each word separately and 
try to grasp the meaning. 

For example, I affirm : I desire to live spiritu- 
ally in harmony with God. To know and under- 
• stand the Law, to live it and become it. 

I then po back over the same affirmation and 
analyze its meaning, thus : To live spiritually, what 
is spirituality? and I compel the silence to answer 
that question. 

Then I take the next sentence and say : in har- 
mony with God. Who is God? What is harmony? 
and again I wait for the answer, and so on and on 

to the end. 

In using these affirmations the pupil can easily 
change the wording to fit the desire of his or her 
special case. In affirming put great force into every 
thought sent out, as the more energy you put into 
a thought, the quicker it manifests in the objective. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 97 



I" am! "L" can! "I" do! "I" will! 



T' am God's highest ideal made manifest. 



k T' am a center. 



I" am a center of attraction. 



I" am a center around which my all revolves. 



"I" am a center of consciousness radiating wis- 



dom and knowledge. 



98 FROM THE SILENCE 



"I" am a center of thought forever expressing 
love and truth. 



I" am a magnet attracting good. 



1" am real. 



I" am universal 



; 'I!" "I!" "I!" 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 99 

I must first become master of myself before I 
can exert an influence over others. 



I am cultivating my many faculties, that I may 
intelligently direct the use of them. 



I am on the way to attainment. I can feel the 
awakening to consciousness of the Higher Self, the 
Real "I." 



The dawn has come and 'I" am well on my 
journey toward the spiritual "Illumination," the 
realization of which brings mastery. 



100 FROM THE SILENCE 

"I" am a center of consciousnessness in a living 
universe, a radiant sun from the infinite source. 



There is a mighty power within me which lifts 
the veil of ignorance and despair and gives strength 
and energy to my thoughts, that my desires may 
be fulfilled. 



"I" am a spark from the sacred flame, a tiny gem 
from the great ocean of life. I will grow and expand 
until my influence will reach to the most remote 
parts of the world. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 101 

"I" am a sun around which all else revolves. 
"I" am a center of thought in this great universe. 



Dawn has broke for me, the darkness of night 
has disappeared and the shadows of sorrow and 
gloom have faded, and my soul is basking in the 
light of eternal truth. 



"1" am developing a stale of inner consciousness 
which will manifest in a center of thought influence, 
whose light will radiate into the outer consciousness, 
bringing hope and comfort to those around whom it 
may revolve. 



102 FROM THE SILENCE 

"I" am a center of attraction. I radiate only love, 
Divine love. 



"1" realize my relationship to the "whole/ 1 
No person or persons lias power to influence me, 



"i' J am turning the thought within. "I" am 
growing, growing, growing. "I" can feel the very 
presence of my Real self. 



"I" am a living entity filled with Omnipotence, 
wisdom and power. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 103 



T' am building in the field of consciousness. 



I" am power, strength, confidence and courage. 



"F- realize the "I" within is the only Real part 
of me which nothing can affect. 



"I" am a child cf "Truth;' and by faith and 
recognition "I" manifest God. 



"F' am a iraglnent cf the Divine :n:i:d; nothing 
is impossible to me 



104 FROM THE SILENCE 

"I" realize my own greatness, that below this 
exoteric plane of consciousness lies far greater 
things in store for me, Wisdom, Knowledge, Power 
and Mastery. 



"I" am climbing the ladder step by step. "I" am 
unfolding to a realization of a higher consciousness 



"I" am master of all my faculties. "I" am tilled 
with force, strength, energy and will power, 
am centered in a center of consciousness. 



> ft 

i 



OR THE" PATH WAY OF HOPE ' 105 

"I" am treading the path of attainment; soon 
(he joy of the silence will he mine. 



"I" am watching and waiting for the ''silence 
inch follows the storm." 



''I" have faith and trust in the knowledge and 
wisdom of the unseen law to guide and direct my 
eficrt, that I nay be enabled to understand its lov- 
ing message. 



106 FROM THE SILENCE 



"1" am safe in the arms of Divine Love; nothing 
can harm me for "I" am Life, one with the All Life 
whose limitless power "I" daily and hourly manifest, 
in the one "I" live and have my being. 



"I" am 'one' with the Universal Life, My mind 
is one with the Universal mind. I realize "I" am 
an expression of the 'one'; "I" realize my unity with 
the Universal Spirit; its very essence permeats my 
whole being, filling me with Divine Love, Wisdom 



2 n d K n c w ! edge . 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 107 

"I" am an individual center in the thought 
world. 



There is but one life permeating the Universe, 
manifesting in many forms, but one in substance. 



Life is all. Life is Eternal. "I" am Life, "I" am 
all, "I" am eternal. "I" love Life and will serve 
Life to the best there is within me, and by right 
thinking "I" receive all Life has for me. 



108 FROM THE SILENCE 

"I" am in direct communication with the Real 
self. "I" am slowly but surely rising above the 
plane of cause and effect. 



"I" am that which "I" think "I" am. "I" Nov/ 

proclaim my ability to think right, to act right, to 
live right and be right. 



"I" will hope on, the Truth will clear the mists 
away. "I" am One with Divine Love and realize 
nothing is impossible to those who trust and wait. 
The power within me will make conditions by which 
all my desires will manifest. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 109 

"I" realize "I" live and have my being in the 

One and in the One possess all. 



"I" am growing and expanding and shall con- 
tinue to grow, until my influence will reach every 
human heart, and shed the beautiful light of Truth 
over all. 



"I" desire to live spiritually — in perfect harmony 
with God, in oneness with the great Whole — to 
know and understand the Law, to manifest it, live 
it and become it. 



110 FROM THE SILENCE 



U I" will give the best to humanity. "I" will 
express only Divine Love, thereby may "I" prove 



a blessing to mankind. 



"I" desire to enter into the Divine realization 
of that sweet peace w r hich knows no sorrow. 



As my thoughts affect all other minds to a 
greater or lesser degree, "I" command that "I" 
think only good, pure and helpful thoughts. 

"I" desire to cast out all thoughts of envy, self- 
ishness, greed and hate. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 111 



"I" have within me the attributes of a God 
which will manifest and shower blessings upon 
humanity. 



Be still my soul, and by the might}^ power of 
Eternal Love, help me solve this knotty problem — 
Be still! Be still! Be still! 



112 FROM THE SILENCE 



Be still my soul and know; be still, oh, thought 
of Peace, of Love, of Light, of Truth, and in the 
silent chamber of Eternal good, teach me to under- 
stand. Be still, my soul, be still, for in thy stillness 
do "I" realize all things are mine. 



Be still ! my soul, and by thy stillness lead my 
faltering footsteps to the Eternal kingdom of good. 
Be still, that I may recognize my inherent birth- 
right and become master of its power. Be still! I 
sav. Be still! 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 



113 



Be still! my soul, and rejoice and be glad for the 
blessing of Eternal Truth. Be still ! and listen to 
the heartbeats of its noble principle. Be still ! my 
soul, for Love wants me. 



Be .still, oh Infinite good, and fill my soul with 
the poise and power of Eternal Truth. Be still! and 
let my whole being radiate w r ith its light. Be still ! 



FROM THE SILENCE 

May the thoughts "I" send out into the Universe 
return laden with hope and love. 



I" am gentle! "I" am kind! "I" am loving! 



"I" am hopeful. "I" harbor only the good. "I" 
rch for only the good. "I" give only the good. 



'T' receive only the good, good is my birth- 



right. 



"I" am gocQ. (God). Good (God) is me. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 115 



"I" am strong in the consciousness of my In- 
finite being. 



T" am filled with joy! peace! and Love! 



In the stillness of meditation I attain a com- 
plete awakening. 



I" am holding my thought. 



I" am one with the All power. 



I" am one with the All! 



T' Now claim my all. 



"I" am Master of my own destiny and in 
"Truth" "I" assist command over my environ- 
ment-.. 



llu FROM THE SILENCE 



HEALTH AFFIRMATIONS, 



am not sick, my thought is sick, not "I." 



I desire health, strength and youth to carry on 
my life work. I have a long and useful life before 
me, I am of use to the human race. 



The arms of Divine Principle encircle me and 
Infinite Love permeates my very being. Health — 



health — health is mine. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 117 

With all the intensity of my creative thought I 
desire life — life — life — more life. I am life — life is 
health. 



Sheath after sheath of material matter is slowly 
dropping away leaving behind a clear conception of 
the Real "I;" 



I can set aside all the not "J" things and medi- 
tate upon each one separately and I fully realize I 
am separate and distinct from all my emotions which 
are in the not "I" class. 



118 PROM THE SILENCE 



I cannot die. I shall live on and on through 



endless time. 



I am resting — I am resting — I am resting in the 
arms of Divine Love. Through the Infinite Law 
I am pro wing stronger and stronger day by day. 



Omnipotence inspires all things to work for my 
good, Infinite life permeates my whole being and 
keeps me ever in health. All life is health. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 



119 



Right thoughts close the door in the face of 
sickness and bolt it against sorrow, sin and death. 



Health is mine, for right thoughts make right 
conditions and only health can manifest. 



I Now demand my birthright; my inheritance 
from the Eternal Whole; my. health, happiness and 
supply. 



FROM THE SILENCE. 



I am stern — I am firm — I am strong. I am mas- 
ter of all my faculties, they are subject to my will. 



I am fearless, error is unknown to me. 

I am developing tr^ will, it is ver}^, very strong. 



I do not worry — I have the power to set aside 
it will any undesirable thought. I cpa'tv no burgl- 
ars' tools about with me. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 121 

I am developing my attention that I may be- 
come master over all my desires. 



I am young, young, young, old age is unknown 
to me, old age is unreal — only youth and happiness 
are realities. 



All things are mine, I am possessed of all I 
desire. 



I have faith in the Infinite all good, faith and 
hope are the corner stones which support me. 



122 FROM THE SILENCE 



To Relieve Pain. 



"I" am real! "1" am Eternal! Sorrow, pain and 
sickness are unreal, but, "I" being real can sense 
only real 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 123 



AFFIRMATIONS FOR THE "INFINITE" 

SUPPLY. 



God is rich and "I," being a spark from the 
sacred flame, am rich also. 



"I" draw my supply from the Omnipresent 
Good; my supply is Infinite and will equal my de- 
mand; the Law is unerring and cannot fail me. 



"I" am success. 'T 7 am prosperity, poverty and 
failure cannot enter my atmosphere, where all is 
good and working in harmony for my welfare. 



My supply is Infinite, no power on earth can take 
from me my birthright. 



124 FROM THE SILENCE 



"I" am not discouraged, for success and realiza- 
tion are mine. 



"I" have that which "I" desire, it will soon mani- 
fest in the objective. 



"I" am a magnate, for all "I" desire, "I" have un- 
limited supply, "I" am wealthy. "I" have all the 
beauties of this life and the life to come is buddine 
for me. 



Success is mine, "I" am growing, success cannot 
fail me. "I" am a child of the Infinite, success is my 

birthright, and abundant supply is my inheritance. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 125 

"I" desire abundant supply that "I" may be of 
use to humanity. 



k T' desire an unlimited supply that "I" may 
realize the beauties of earth. 



"I" realize that God is my supply, my supply is 
Infinite and if "I" trust It will not fail me. 



"I" am open to the inflow of Wisdom, Knowl- 
edge and Truth. 



Ail my desires are fulfilled by the hand of Omni- 
present q-ood. 



126 FROM THE SILENCE 



AFFIRMATIONvS FOR SUCCESS. 



"1" am worthy of success. I have success, suc- 
cess is mine. 



"I" have that which the w T orld needs and through 
the Infinite Law of Expression "I" will love it into 
being. 



"I" desire through the divine Law which con- 
trols supply to draw to myself abundance. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 127 

"I" desire through nature's divine Law of use, 
to be shown how and through what channels "I" 
may use my Infinite supply for the good of man- 
kind. 



k T' realize God is my supply, my supply is In- 
finite and by faith it will manifest in abundance. 



May each member of my family realize this beau- 
tiful truth and become one with the great Whole. 



May discord be forever removed from my life 
and harmony fill the vacancy. 



FROM THE SILENCE 



LOVE IS ALL. 



'Tis not the memory of the past, 
Which makes our happy day; 

Nor will the morrow with its hopes, 
Shed sunshine on our way. 

But blessed be the realization 
Of our Oneness with the Whole; 

Which makes this plain a paradise, 
And proves that "Love" is All. 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 129 



LOVE AFFIRMATIONS. 

"I" am very popular, "I" have many friends, "I" 
desire many friends — good friends — friends who 
love me and will be of benefit to me. 



k T' desire love— "I" love— "I" am beloved— "I" 
love all — "I" am happy. "I" am so happy that the 
very thought brings joyful things to me — "I" think 
only happiness. 



My home is happy — my husband loves me — my 
children love me and "I" love all 



130 FROM THE SILENCE 



To Awaken the Love Principle. 



"I" do love him! (or her as the case may be) 
"I" do love him— he is good! "I" love— T' love- 
"I" love him — he loves me — he loves me ! 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 131 



A CALL SENT OUT FROM THE SILENCE TO 
A LOST FRIEND. 



UTf> 



Darling, come back! Come back! "I" say! "I 
love you, come back!" Emphasizing each call, at 
the same time mentally see the dear one's returning 
face. 

My dear one is coming back to me! He is on 
his way — he is here — he has come to stay — he loves 
me — he loves me — he loves me! 



132 FROM THE SILENCE 



To Arouse a Desire. 



Awake! My soul Awake! Thou hath slept long 
and : sound! Awake! Awake! Thou laggard, 
Awake ! Awake ! "I" say ! and do thy work ! Awake ! 
Awake ! Awake ! 



OR THE PATHWAY OF HOPE 133 



To Strengthen the Faculties. 



My hearing is fine — I can hear the faintest sound. 
In giving this, pause and listen after each affirma- 
tion. 

My eyes are splendid, I can see better and bet- 
ter as the days go by. 

My memory is perfect, better than ever before. 



134 FROM THE SILENCE 



For a- Man Who Drinks or Smokes, 



It is well to give this suggestion while the pa- 
tient is asleep 5 if convenient. 

You must not drink ! You can not drink ! You 
will stop drinking! .You have stopped drinking! 



"THE AGE OF THOUGHT." 



All interested in sou! growth should subscribe 
for "The Age of Thought/ 5 The popular "New 
Thought" magazine of today containing many les- 
sons in son! growth. Mental Science and Divine 
Science and mapy others ail by the best of teach- 
ers. Including "Stepping Stones for Little Feet" 
edited by Mrs. Eyjl Williams Best 

One year for ]|§&. Payable in advnce. 

Mrs. Dan, M. Davidson, Editor and publisher 
Detroti, Mich. XI. S. A. 



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